Tone down drama and get budget done

Published: Friday, July 11, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 3:08 p.m.

There have been a few good signs lately in the ongoing budget negotiations between the N.C. House and Senate. But Wednesday's walkout by senators over House leaders inviting educators to testify was not among them.

House members agreed Wednesday to give up on the idea of doubling lottery advertising to generate nearly $30 million more for education. On Thursday, Senate leaders noted they had offered to fully fund teacher assistants and taken the issue of teacher tenure "out of the equation" as part of $171 million in concessions they have made during negotiations.

Progress on the budget seemed to get a boost after senators walked out of a public negotiation session early Wednesday to protest the House’s decision to bring in school superintendents to speak. The educators came to testify about what would happen if the state cut $233 million in funding for teacher assistants to pay for an 11 percent raise for teachers, as had been proposed by the Senate.

Senate negotiators left for almost an hour, saying they had not agreed to allow speakers other than budget negotiators. This came after threats by unnamed legislators to keep talks going until Christmas.

"Legislators returned for their afternoon session to find a Christmas wreath on the podium, little Christmas stockings at Senate negotiators' seats, and lumps of coal on House members' desks," the News & Observer of Raleigh reported.

We've put off writing an editorial that tells legislators to settle their differences, agree to a budget and go home. After all, with Republicans controlling both houses and the governor's mansion, it didn't look like this year's budget battle could turn into the kind of protracted siege that characterized those of years past, when Democrats ran things.

There was this idea that Republicans, once in control, would work together. Instead, the House, Senate and Gov. Pat McCrory have disputed items such as education and Medicaid spending, and whether to depend on increased lottery proceeds or cuts to teaching assistant positions to pay for teacher raises. It's all just part of the legislative sausage-making, but sooner or later constituents have a right to ask, where's the beef?

There have been signs of progress, notably the House dropping its questionable plan to increase lottery revenue by doubling the budget for lottery advertising and the Senate dropping its proposal to cut funding for teacher assistants. The original Senate proposal would have eliminated funding for more than 7,000 teacher assistants in second and third grades to pay for an 11 percent teacher raise.

Cutting thousands of teacher assistants statewide would damage not only education, but also election prospects for Republicans, most notably House Speaker Thom Tillis, who is running against U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan. Gov. McCrory, who has sided with the House on its version for education spending, underscored his point when he berated Senate members for Wednesday's walkout. "We need to listen to them, not walk out on them," he said. On Thursday, McCrory threatened to veto the Senate plan.

Political grandstanding aside, it's about time for state leaders to settle their differences and come up with a budget they can defend before voters. That would be a gift to all North Carolinians. You might even call it Christmas in July.

<p>There have been a few good signs lately in the ongoing budget negotiations between the N.C. House and Senate. But Wednesday's walkout by senators over House leaders inviting educators to testify was not among them.</p><p>House members agreed Wednesday to give up on the idea of doubling lottery advertising to generate nearly $30 million more for education. On Thursday, Senate leaders noted they had offered to fully fund teacher assistants and taken the issue of teacher tenure "out of the equation" as part of $171 million in concessions they have made during negotiations.</p><p>Progress on the budget seemed to get a boost after senators walked out of a public negotiation session early Wednesday to protest the House's decision to bring in school superintendents to speak. The educators came to testify about what would happen if the state cut $233 million in funding for teacher assistants to pay for an 11 percent raise for teachers, as had been proposed by the Senate.</p><p>Senate negotiators left for almost an hour, saying they had not agreed to allow speakers other than budget negotiators. This came after threats by unnamed legislators to keep talks going until Christmas.</p><p>"Legislators returned for their afternoon session to find a Christmas wreath on the podium, little Christmas stockings at Senate negotiators' seats, and lumps of coal on House members' desks," the News & Observer of Raleigh reported.</p><p>We've put off writing an editorial that tells legislators to settle their differences, agree to a budget and go home. After all, with Republicans controlling both houses and the governor's mansion, it didn't look like this year's budget battle could turn into the kind of protracted siege that characterized those of years past, when Democrats ran things.</p><p>There was this idea that Republicans, once in control, would work together. Instead, the House, Senate and Gov. Pat McCrory have disputed items such as education and Medicaid spending, and whether to depend on increased lottery proceeds or cuts to teaching assistant positions to pay for teacher raises. It's all just part of the legislative sausage-making, but sooner or later constituents have a right to ask, where's the beef?</p><p>There have been signs of progress, notably the House dropping its questionable plan to increase lottery revenue by doubling the budget for lottery advertising and the Senate dropping its proposal to cut funding for teacher assistants. The original Senate proposal would have eliminated funding for more than 7,000 teacher assistants in second and third grades to pay for an 11 percent teacher raise.</p><p>Cutting thousands of teacher assistants statewide would damage not only education, but also election prospects for Republicans, most notably House Speaker Thom Tillis, who is running against U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan. Gov. McCrory, who has sided with the House on its version for education spending, underscored his point when he berated Senate members for Wednesday's walkout. "We need to listen to them, not walk out on them," he said. On Thursday, McCrory threatened to veto the Senate plan.</p><p>Political grandstanding aside, it's about time for state leaders to settle their differences and come up with a budget they can defend before voters. That would be a gift to all North Carolinians. You might even call it Christmas in July.</p>